China’s State Security Ministry has accused a Taiwanese hacking group backed by Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry of launching cyberattacks against China, publishing the names and photos of three Taiwanese individuals they believe to be responsible. Taiwanese officials have denied these claims.
China claims that the hacker organization, called “Anonymous 64,” is a cyber army supported by proponents of Taiwanese independence and that it frequently carries out cyberattacks against China, Hong Kong, and Macao. They further allege that members of Taiwan’s Information, Communications, and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM) are involved in these attacks.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has clarified that the purpose of ICEFCOM is to perform security maintenance for the military’s online networks. ICEFCOM also responds to threats from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Cyberspace Force.
This Tuesday, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) stated that information security is an important part of national defense and that Taiwan’s main priority is to safeguard its data and communications. He said that while the Defense Ministry is investigating China’s claims, he is confident that the accusations are false.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) has also refuted China’s claims, saying that the main instigators of cyberwarfare are, in fact, the CCP. Regarding the possibility of joint cooperation between Taiwan and the United States in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry, Koo said that Taiwan is always open to combining talents with the U.S.
